Process and apparatus for handling



Dec. 2, 1941. v F. J. ToslA H Re. 21,967

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ELASTIC FILAMENTS Orizihal Filed Aug.14, 1957 IN ram/role I ORNEYS ieiuued Dec. 2, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ELASTIC FILAMENTS Fred J.Tobias, Ridgewood, N. Y., asslgnor to Filatex Corporation, Trenton, N.1., a corporation of New Jersey Original No. 2,199,550, dated May 7,1940, Serial No. 159,051, August 14, 1937. Application for reissue May5, 1941, Serial No. 392,011

14 Claims.

The invention relates in general to the handling of elastic filamentarybodies and in particular to a process of rewinding covered and uncoveredelastic rubber yarns and threads and to correlated improvements designedto enhance the properties andusefulness of such yarns and threads.

In the heretofore practiced methods of manufacturing and handlingpackages of rubber like elastic filamentary bodies such as bare rubberfilaments and filaments in the form of covered elastic yarns,non-uniformity in tension throughout a given length of such filamentarybodies has invariably resulted. .Such non-uniformity of tension of thepackages has given rise to many serious difllculti'es both in thecovering of rubber filaments and in the fabrication of variousstructures from the resultant covered yarns. In the process of producingelastic yarns comprising a rubber core and a covering of textile thread,the

rubber core is usually passed through the cover-' ing machine in astretched condition, the degree of stretch being lnitiallyadjustedbefore starting of the machine. Due to the non-uniform tension in therubber filaments introduced into the covering machine, the degree ofstretch is automatically varied, thus yielding a nonuniform coveredelastic yarn.

In the winding and rewinding of covered elastic yarns according to thehitherto known practices, the yarn has been transferred from one packageto another under tension and with a relatively short span between thepackages so that any non-uniformity in tension present in the yarn ofthe first package was maintained and transmitted by the yarn intothesecond package. This non-uniformity in tension within the yarnpackage gave rise to seriousdiiliculties in knitting and weavingoperations as the structure produced was characterized by havingportions undergreater tension than other portions which tended to yielda wavy fabric which would not lie fiat.

In the winding up and rewinding of covered yarn into a package on arevolving supporting core such, for example, as a spool, cop, cone,bottle or the like, by withdrawing the yarnover one end of a supplyspool, cop, bottle or. the like, held in a stationary position. Duringsuch a rewinding process, a twist is imparted to the yarn on the newlylormed package which. cannot be eliminated except by twisting the yarnin the opposite direction. A yarn having such a twist is known in theart as an "oil-balanced" yarn,

elastic yarns, it has been customary to wind the i the condition ofwhich does not change during subsequent rewinding operations. In theweaving and knitting of fabrics, oil-balanced elastic yarns have provedto be useless as the kinks and knots which develop in the yarn catch inthe knitting needles or shuttles causing breaks and producing unsightlyspots in the fabric.

The general object of the invention is to obviate the foregoing andother disadvantages.

. Another object of the invention is to provide a process for producinga yarn package in which the yarn is balanced and under substantiallyuniform longitudinal tension.

A specific object is to provide a process where'- by the tension in arubber filament is continuously and consistently removed prior topassing the filament for use.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a process and anapparatus for eliminating the usual off-balance developed in a coveredelastic yarn during rewinding.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

According to the invention, a balanced elastic yarn package is producedby continuously unwinding an elastic yarn from a' yarn package in whichthe yarn is wound under more or less tension, relaxing the yarn. andrewinding the relaxed yarn under a uniform tension into a second yarnpackage. The expression yarn as used in the specification and claims isintended to into the following detailed description taken in connectionwith the accompanyingdrawing in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic .view in side elevation. of one embodiment ofthe apparatus 01' the invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating another embodiment of theapparatus of the invention; and v Fig. 3 shows in an enlarged top view,the drawing rollers shown in Fig. 1.

' winding and advanced by suitable means such as cooperating drawingrollers ll-M and later used as by being formed into a second yarnpackage by winding upon a core l6, such as a cop, bottle, cone, bobbinor the like when other use, such as fabrication of various structures aspreviously mentioned, is to be deferred until some later time. A freehanging loop I6 i maintained in the filament between the withdrawingmeans and the point of use. The yarn in the loop 16 relanes and, sincethe weight of the yarn is negligible, it is in an untensioned conditionthroughout the zone formed by the loop. Relaxation of the yarn takesplace without any tendency on the part of the yarn to twist. Since therotating speed of the cop l normally remains constant the size of theloop It tends to decrease due to the gradual increase in the diameter ofthe second yarn package durlng rewinding. This effect may be preventedby employing for the with drawing means a pair of conical rollersprovided with a cooperating guide I! which is caused during operation tomove the thread from the small end to the large end of the drawingrollers, thus gradually increasing the feeding speed of the yarn tocompensate for the increased rewinding rate. With this latterarrangement it is obvious that the drawing and winding speeds may becorrelated to maintain the size of the loop I6 sub stantially constantor within certain suitable limits during operation. The traverse meansIt maybe provided with suitable guide means I9 for delivering the yarnto the core IS, the tensioning device IB-being employed to restrict theadvance of the yarn and thereby control the winding tension.'

One of-the unwinding rollers l4--l4 and the rewind-supportfor the corel5 may be mounted upon the same shaft A and thus be driven by a commondrive wheel D. Preferably the unwinding and rewinding means are mountedupon sep- 'arate shafts and are independently driven but itis to beunderstood that the unwinding and rewinding means are in simultaneousoperation and co-function to produce the balanced yarn package of theinvention.

Another embodiment of the apparatus of the invention is shown in Fig. 2wherein a yarn pack age on'a support, for example, in the form-of abobbin, cop or spool I provided with braking means i3 is rotatablymounted so that the yarn I! may be withdrawn therefrom by means ofcooperating drawing rollers l4'l4'. The yarn I 2 is delivered in arelaxed state to a receptacle 2| which is preferably in the form of atapering tube. The yarn is caused to fall freely within the receptacleto form a plurality of folds or loops- 22. The relaxed yarn is withdrawnfrom the other end of the tube around a guide rod or roller 23 andformed into a yarn package by winding upon a core l5 such, for example,as a cop, .spool, bottle or the like'havin'g a suitable guide means IIcooperating therewith.

The uniform tension under which the yarn is wound upon the,core It maybe controlledby a suitable guiding or tensioning means I9 mounted on theguide'means and/or by tensioning means .10. The drawing rollers l'4'-ll'may be of the type shown in Fig. 3, or they may be cylindrical,

for the differences in the rates of feeding and I winding.

In Fig. 3 there is shown a top view of a pair of conical drawing rollersM-M which are journaled at their small ends in adouble bearing 24. Attheir large ends, the rollers l4-|4 are provided with bevel gears 25-25which intermesh with each other, one of which may be driven by suitablemeans (not shown).

While the invention has been described broadly withrespect to therewinding of a yarn package, it is within the purview of the inventionto carry out a suitable operation between the first and second yarnpackages, for example, the operation of covering a rubber core. Aconventional covering unit may be interposed in the apparatus shown atany suitable point in the right hand arm of the U-shaped loop. Such acovering unit has been diagrammatically illustrated at 26 and willusually comprise one or more rotatable spindles for applying a suitablecovering to the core. In such an arrangement, the rubber filament willbe continuously supplied to the covering machine while in a uniformstate of tension throughout.

While only single units of the apparatus of the invention have beenshown, it is contemplated to provide apparatus composed of a pluralityof units disposed adjacent one another whereby'the various operatingelements may derive their motive power from a common source.

The elastic yarn in the package obtained 'by' the winding process of theinvention is characterized by being substantially completely balancedthroughout its length as to tension and twist and'is therefore admirablysuited for direct use in the fabrication of textile material without thenecessity of rewinding, balancing or other-- 1. A process of rewindingrubber-like elastic I yarn which comprises unwinding a tensionedrubber=-like elastic yarn from a package thereof,

. delivering the yarn to a receptacle in which it is permittedto assumea relaxed state, withdrawing the yarn and rewinding the relaxed yarnunder a uniform tension to form a package of balanced yarn. 2. A processof rewinding rubber-like elastic yarn which comprises continuouslyunwinding a tensloned rubber-like elastic yarn from a package thereof,deliverlhg the yarn to one end of a.rev ceptacle in which it ispermitted-to assume a re laxed state, continuously withdrawing yarn fromthe opposite end-of the receptacle and rewinding the relaxed yarn underuniform tension.

3. Apparatus for handling covered rubber-like elastic yarn whichcomprises positively driven means for continuously unwinding tensionedelastic yarn from a package thereof, means-for j winding the yarn into apackage, means for mainpermitted to assume a relaxed state, means forcontinuously withdrawing the yarn from the receptacle andv for windingit into a package of substantially uniformly tensioned yarn.

5. A method 01' winding a rubber-like elastic filamentary body in finalpackage form. which consists in unwindingthe elastic filamentary bodyunder tension from a previously formed package, maintaining a zone ofsaid elastic filamentary body between said previously formed package andthe final package and also continuously maintaining said elasticfilamentary body substantially relaxed insaid zone; and continuouslyIeeding said elastic filamentary body from said zone to said finalpackage under a substantially uniform tension.

6. A process of handling rubber-like elastic is maintained in advance ofthefilament tension-- positively driven means for removing the filamentfrom the winding. means for tensioning and advancing the filament, thespeeds of operation of the means for removing the filament from thewinding and the means for tensioning andadvancing the filamentbeing socorrelated that a freely suspended loop, in which the filament exists ina substantially relaxed condition.

ing means, and means for applying a covering to the filament while it ismaintained under tension.-

10. A process for handling rubber-like elastic filaments which comprisesremoving a tensioned rubber-like elastic filament from its support,passfilaments which comprises removing a tensioned rubber-like elasticfilament irom its support. passing the filament so removed through azone in which it is permitted to assume a substantially relaxedcondition, passing the filament lromsaid zone and subjecting it to atensioning operation. and winding the filament while under tension.

7. A process of handling rubber-like elastic filamentsgwhich comprisesremoving a tensioned. rubber-like elastic filament from its support,passing the filament so removed through a zone in which it is permittedto assume a substantially relaxed condition, passing thefilament fromsaid zone and subjecting it to a tensioning operation, applying acovering to the filament while under tension, and winding the coveredfilament.

tially relaxed condition ahead oi the means for restricting the advanceor the filament.

9. an apparatus for handling rubber-like elastic filaments comprisingmeans for supporting a winding of tensioned rubber-like elasticfilament,

ing the filament so removed through a zone in which it is consistentlypermitted to assume a substantially relaxed condition, passing thefilament from said zone in a substantially uniform state oftension,.-and winding the filament while so tensioned.

11. A procem for handling rubber-like elastic filamentswhich comprises atensionedrubber-like elastic filament from its support. passing thefilament so removed through a zone within which the filament at alltimes of operaticn is permitted to assume a substantially un- Itensioned condition, passing the filament from said zone and thereaftertensioning the filament, and. utilizing the filament while it istensioned.

12. A process for handling rubber-like elastic filaments which comprisesunwinding a rubberlike elastic filament from its support, passing thefilament so removed through a zone within which the filament at alltimes of operation is permitted to assume an unstretched condition, andpassing the filament from said zone to a point o! use.

13. A process of handling rubber-like elastic filaments which comprisesremoving a tensioned rubber-like elastic filament from its support,passing the filament so removed through a zone inwhichitiscausedtoassumeasubstantially untensi'oned condition, passing thefilament from said zone and subjecting it to a operation, applying acovering to thefilament while under tension, and winding the coveredfilament.

14. An apparatus for handling rubber-like elasticfliaments comprisingmeans for supporting a I winding of tensioned rubber-like elasticfilament,

positively driven means for removing the filament from the winding.means for tensioning and advancing the filament, the speeds of operationofthemeans for removing flaefilament from the windingand the means fortensioning and ad vancingthefilamentbeing socorrelatedthata suspendedloop, inwhich the filament exists in a substantially untenslonedcondition, is maintained in advance oi the filament tensioning means,and means for applying a covering to the filament while it is maintainedunder tension.

HtID J. 'IOBIAB.

